1, 3, 5-trithiane compounds



United States Patent" Ofiice 3,066,149 Patented Nov. 27, 1 962 This, invention relates broadly to the biological application of compounds represented by the structure wherein a and n are numbers from 0 to 2, at least one of a and n being greater than 0; R ,R2 ,R R R and R are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl radicals, especially lower alkyl radicals, e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, and their. isomers, halogen atoms, i.e., fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine, chlo- 5 rine being preferred, aryl radicals, such as phenyl or naphthyl radicals, alkaryl radicals, suchas tolyl andxylyl radicals, 'aralkyl. radicals, such as benzyl and phenethyl radicals, and halogen, hydroxy, and nitro substituted derivatives of these radicals.

More specifically the present invention v relates to novel compounds represented by the structure:

wherein R R R are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl radicals, espeically lower alkyl radicals, e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, octyl, and their isomers, halogen atoms, as previously defined, chlorine being preferred, aryl radicals, such as phenyl or naphthyl radicals, alkaryl radicals, such as tolyl and xylyl radicals, aralkyl radicals, such as benzyl and phenethyl 9) 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-trithiane-l,1,3,3-tetro ide (10) 2-chloro-l,3 ,5-trithiane-1,1,3,3-tetroxide ('11) 2-iodo-1',3,5-trithiane-1,1,3-tetroxide (1,2) 2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3,5-trithiane-1-oxide Specific compounds falling within the scope of Structure I I above, are:- p (1 2,4,6-trihalol ,3, 5-trithiane-l,3-dioxide (a) 2,4,6-trichloro-l,3,5-trithiane-l,3-dioxide (b) 2,4,6-tri bromo-1,3,5'-trithiane-l,3-dioxide 2 (2) 2,4 dihalo-1,3,5-trithiane-1,3 dioxide (a) 2,4-dichloro-l,3;5-trithiane-l,3 dioxide (b) 2,4-dibromol ,3 ,5-trithiane-l,3-dioxide 2-halo-1,3,5-trithiane-1-,3-dioxide, (a) 2 -chloro-l,3,5-trithiane lg3-dioxide (b) Z-iodo-l,3',5 trithiane-1,3-dioxide (c) 2-bromo-1,3,5=trithiane-l,3-dioxide 2,4-dialkyl-l,3,5-trithiane-1,3-dioxide (a) 2,4-dimethyl-1,3,5-trithiane-l ,3-dioxide (b 2,4-diethyl"-1,3 ,5 -trithiane- 1,3-dioxide (c) 2,4-diisopropyl-1,3,5-trithiane-1,3-dioxide (d) 2,4-di- (2-haloethyl) 1,3 ,5 -trithiane- 1-,3-dioxide (e) 2,4-di-(2-nitroethyl)-1,3,5-trithiane-1,3-dioxide (f) 2,4-di-(Z-hydroxy-n-butyl) 1',3,5-trithiane-1,3

dioxide (5) 2,4,6-trialkyl-1,3,5-trithiane-1,3-dioxide (a) 2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3,S-trithiane-l ,3-dioxide (b 2,4,6-triethyl-1,3,5-trithiane-l ,3-dioxide (c) 2,4,6-tri-n-propyl1,3,5-trithiane 1,3:dioxide (d) 2,4,6-tri-n-butyl-l,3,5 trithiane-L3 dioxide (6) 2,4,6-triphenyl-1',3,5-trithiane-1,3-dioxide Broadly, compounds of this; invention may be prepared by oxidizing a 1,3,5-trithiane, e.g., 1,3-trithiane, 2,4,6-tri methyl-1,3,5-trithiane, and 2,4,6-triphenyl-1,3,S-trithiane; however, it has now been found that compounds of the structure:

(III

ly reacting a compound of the. structure s s HA; an

wherein R R and R are as previously defined, with an oxidizing agent, e.g., potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide being preferred. This reaction is typically carried to completion requiring about one-half to five hours, e.g., one to two hours. The temperature is preferably maintained below 40 C. due to the reaction being exothermic and increasingly difficult to control at higher temperatures, e.g., above 70 C. The reactants may be mixed in about stoichiometric amounts, e.g., about two moles of hydrogen peroxide is chemically reacted with one mole of the substituted-1,3,5- trithiane, however, in certain instances a slight excess, e.g., 10-20%, of hydrogen peroxide is desirable to maintain practical reaction speed and efficiency.

The desired products are solids, typically separated by recrystallization from an organic solvent, such as benzene, petroleum ether, acetone, a lower alcohol, e.g., methanol, ethanol, propanol, or water. The desired product is also soluble in acetone, acetic anhydride, and lower organic acids, e.g., acetic acid, pyruvic acid, and propionic acid.

Specifically preferred 2,4,6-trialkyl-l,3,5-trithiane-l,3- dioxides may be prepared by chemically reacting 2,4,6- trialkyl-l,3,5-trithianes with an oxidizing agent, e.g., hydrogen peroxide. The reactants are mixed in approximately stoichiometric ratios, i.e., one mole of the 2,4,6- trialkyl-l,3,5-trithiane being mixed with about two moles of hydrogen peroxide, preferably in the presence of acetic acid and water, such as the reaction of 99 to 102 g. of 2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3,5-trithiane dissolved in 1200 to 1550 ml. of acetic acid with 220 to 225 ml. of 25% hydrogen peroxide in water. The exothermic reaction is normally carried to completion typically at a temperature below 40 C., e.g., 40 C. The resultant product is typically soluble in organic solvents, such as benzene, acetone, and lower alcohols, e.g., methanol, ethanol, propanol, and lower organic acids, e.g., acetic acid, pyruvic acid, propionic acid, and acetic anhydride.

Typically the 2,4,6-trialkyl-1,3,5-trithiane is separated or purified through distillation, preferably at reduced pressure, or through recrystallization from an organic solvent, e.g., benzene, petroleum ether, acetone, or a lower alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol, and propanol. Preferably the product is separated by recrystallization from a solvent such as benzene, giving the desired product.

The compounds of this invention exhibit a high degree of chemical reactivity, but more specifically a marked biological activity. Specifically, these compounds are ac- 'tive pesticides, e.g., fungicides, as in the control of plant and non-plant fungi, seed protectants, insecticides, as for the control of aphids, nematocides as in the control of nonplant parasite nematodes, selective herbicides as in the control of undesirable plant growth, and for the control of microorganism growth, e.g., bactericides.

These compounds may be used alone or in combination with other known biologically-active materials, such as organic phosphate pesticides, chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides, foliage and soil fungicides, preand postemergent herbicides, and the like.

While compounds of this invention may be employed in a variety of applications, biologically-active or otherwise, it will be understood, of course, that such compounds may be utilized in diverse formulations, both liquid and solid, including finely-divided powders and granular materials, as well as liquids, such as solutions, concentrates, emulsifiable concentrates, slurries and the like, dictated by the application intended and the formulation media desired.

Thus it will be appreciated that compounds of this invention may be employed to form biologically-active substances containing such compounds as essential active ingredients thereof, which compositions may also contain carriers, including finely-divided dry or liquid diluents, extenders, fillers, conditioners, including various clays, diatomaceous earth, talc, spent catalyst, or other silica material, solvents, diluents, etc., including water and various organic liquids, such as benzene, acetone, cyclohexanone,

carbon disulfide, alcohols, organic acid salts, petroleum distillate fractions, and various mixtures thereof.

When liquid formulations are employed or dry materials prepared which are to be used in liquid form, it is desirable in certain instances additionally to employ a wetting,

emulsifying or dispersing agent to facilitate use of the formulation, e.g., ionic and non-ionic surface-active agents, quaternary ammonium salts, alkyl aryl sulfonate surface-active agents, non-ionic polyoxyalkylene fatty ester surface-active agents, Triton X-155 (alkylarylpoly- 4 ing a major proportion of the biologically-active or other formulations and, hence, includes finely-divided materials both liquid and solids as aforementioned conveniently used in such applications.

An embodiment of the invention is a sanitizing composition, that is, a composition employed in contacting or destroying conditions, organisms, or bacteria detrimental to either human or animal life, containing a sanitizing amount of a compound within the scope of Structure I. This is intended also to include carriers for the subject toxic ingredients. In practice, the method of sanitizing may be carried out by contacting the detrimental conditions, i.e., organisms, bacteria, and material, space or area infested, with a sanitizing amount of a compound within Structure I. It is obvious that the amount of toxic agent or sanitizing composition required will be dictated by the degree of infestation and the degree of sanitizing needed or desired and the material or environment to be sanitized.

A specific embodiment is the method of sanitizing a body of water employed for swimming or other purposes requiring sanitation, i.e., a swimming pool, comprising the addition thereto of a sanitizing amount of a compound of Structure I, and preferably 2,2,4,4,6,6-hexachloro-1,3,5- trithiane-l,1,3,3,-tetroxide. It has been found that a compound suitable for swimming pool sanitation should have a available chlorine content in a saturated aqueous solution of about 1.5 to 2.75 ppm. A lower concentration of available chlorine is ineffective and a higher one causes a source of skin and eye irritation. In view of the fact that the available chlorine content of a saturated aqueous solution of 2,2,4,4,6,6-hexachloro-l,3,5,-trithiane- 1,1,3,3-tetroxide is about 2.6, that compound lends itself to the method of sanitizing, and specifically the method of sanitizing water, i.e., in swimming pools and water suitable for swimming, comprising contacting the conditions, i.e., the water, to be sanitized with a sanitizing amount of a compound within Structure I. A preferred application is the method of sanitizing swimming pools comprising the adding to the water thereof a sanitizing amount of the above hexachloro-trithiane-tetroxide.

In order that those skilled in the art may more completely understand the present invention and the preferred methods by which the same may be carried into effect, the following specific examples are offered:

EXAMPLE I Preparation of 2,2,4,4,6,6-Hexachlor0- I,3,5-Trithiane-1,1,3,3-Tetroxide This preparation is based on the article by W. V. Farrar in the Journal of the Chemical Society, 1956, page 508.

515 g. NaOH is dissolved in 1580 ml. distilled water and cooled while chlorine is added to form NaOCl. 79 g. NaHCO dissolved in 1580 ml. distilled water is then added. Cooling by an ice salt water bath and stirring in continued while 79 g. (0.57 mol) 1,3,5-trithiane is added in portions over a 45-minute period. The temperature is held below 27 C. throughout the addition even though the reaction is exothermic. Upon reaction completion the reaction mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature. The desired product is isolated by recrystalization from acetone, yielding pure 2,2,4,4,6,6-hexachloro-l,3,5,-trithiane-1,1,3,3,-tetroxide, M.P. 202203 C.

EXAMPLE II Fungicidal activity of the above hexachloro-trithianetetroxide is demonstrated through spore germination tests on glass slides which are conducted via the test tube dilution method adopted from the procedure recommended by the American Phytopathological Societys Committee on Standardization of Fungicidal Tests. In this procedure, the product of Example I in aqueous formulation at concentrations of 1000, 100, 10, and 1.0 ppm is tested for its ability to inhibit germination of spores from 7 to 10- day old cultures of Allernaria oleracea and Monilinia fructicolar Germination records are taken after'20hours of incubation at 22 C. by counting 100 spores. Results EXAMPLE III Fungicid'al utility is" further demonstrated through a tomato foliage disease test measuring the ability of the product of Example I to protect tomato foliage against infection by the Early blight fungus, Alternaria solani. Tomato plants 5 to 7 inches high of the variety Bonny Best are employed. The plants are'sprayed' with 100ml. of test formulation at 512 p.p.m., and 256 p.p;m., test chemical" in combination with 5% acetone, 0.01% Triton X-l55, and the balance Waterat 40' pounds air pressure, while being rotated on a turntable in a spray chamber. After the spray deposit is dry the treated plants and comparable untreated controls are sprayed with a spore suspension containing approximately 20,000 conidia of A. solani per ml. The plants are held in asaturated atmosphere for 24 hours at 70 F. to permit spore germination and infection. After two to four days, lesion counts are made on the three uppermost fully expanded leaves. Data based on the number of lesions obtained on the control plants shows 100% disease'control at the above concentrations. V v

EXAMPLE IV Fungicidal utility is demonstrated also by the ability ofthe: product of Example I to'protect tomato plants against the Late blight fungus, Phytophthora infestans. The method employs tomato plants 5* to 7 inches high of the variety Bonny Best. 100 ml. of the test' formulation at 400 p.p.m. and 256 p.p.m. test chemical in combination with 5% acetone, 0.01% Triton X-l55, and the balance water. is sprayed on the plants at 40 pounds air pressure while the plants are being rotated on a turntable in a spray chamber. After the spray deposit is dry the treated plants and comparable untreated controls are sprayed with a spore suspension containing approximately 150,000 sporangia of P. infestans per ml. The plants are held in a saturated atmosphere for 24 hours at 60 F. to permit spore germination and infection. After two to four days lesion counts are made on the three uppermost fully expanded leaves. Comparing the number of lesions on the test plants and control plants shows better than 97% disease control at the above concentrations.

EXAMPLE V Still a further test measures the ability of the product r of Example I to protect pea seeds and seedlings from seed decay and damping olf fungi (Py-thuim, Fusarium). In this test infected soil in 4 x 4 x 3-inch plant band boxes is treated by a soil drench mix method at the rate of 128 pounds per acre. Treatment is accomplished by pouring 70 ml. of a 2000 p.p.m. aqueous formulation (2000 p.p.m. test chemical5% acetone-0.01% Triton X-l55--remainder water) on the surface of the soil. This is allowed to stand until the next day when the soil is removed from each box and thoroughly mixed before being replaced in the box. Untreated checks and standardized material are included in each test in addition to a check planted in sterilized soil. Percentage stand recorded 14 days after planting shows 96% stand compared to 4% stand on the untreated controls.

EXAMPLE VI To test herbicidal effectiveness of the product of Example I, tomato plants, variety Bonny Best, 5 to 7 inches tall; corn, variety Cornell M-l (field corn), 4 to 6 inches tall; bean, variety Tendergreen, just as the trifoliate leaves are beginning to unfold; and oats, variety Clinton, 3 to 5 inches tall, are sprayed with 100 m1. of an aqueous test formulation (3200 and 1600 p.p.m. test chemical5% acetone-0.0l% Triton X*155--balance water) at 40 pounds air pressure-while being rotated on a-turntable in" a spray chamber: Records are taken 14 days aftertreatment and phytotoxicityis rated on a-scale from 0 for no'injury to 11 for plant kill. Using this procedure each plant had a rating'of 0 at each concentration, thus demonstrating the product of Example I would not be phytotoxic to plants in fungicidal applications.

EXAMPLE VII crop plants is broadcast in. 8. x. 8 x' 2-inch metal cakepans filled to within /z-inch of the top with. composted greenhouse soil. The. seed is uniformly covered with about A-inch of soil and water; After 24 hours ml. of an aqueous test formulation containing 3-20 mg.. test compound. is sprayed at 10 pounds air pressure-uniformly over the surface of the: pan. This is equivalent ,to 64 pounds per acre.. The seed mixture contains'seeds. of three broadleafs: turnip, flax, alfalfa; and three grasses: wheat, millet, and rye grass; Two weeks after treatment records are takenon seedling standsas compared tov the controls; Using this procedure results: show 40% stand for the. broadleaf and. stand for the grass.

EXAMPLE VIII In order to make an in vitro evaluation of the product of Example I: as a contact. poison, non-plant parasite nematodes, Panagrellus redivivus, are exposed to the test chemical in small watch glasses (27 mm. diameter x 8 mm. deep), Within a 9cm. Petri, dish An aqueous test formulation (1000 p.p.m. product: of Example I--5,% acetone0.01% Triton X.-l55-balance water) is used; Results are recorded 24 hours after treatment showing mortality at the above concentration.

EXAMPLE IX 100.5 g. of 2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3,5-trithiane. (MP. 70"- 80 C.) is dissolved in 1500 ml; acetic acid and223 ml. of 25% H 0 in aqueous solution is run in slowly with stirring and cooling. The reactant temperature is maintained below 35 C. throughout the reaction; upon reaction completion the mixture is filtered and solvent is distilled off under reduced pressure resulting in 700 ml. of residue which is allowed to evaporate and crystallize. The resulting partially liquid mass is cooled and filtered. The viscous liquid filtrate is allowed to evaporate further, yielding a total of 43 gm. of orange yellow solid. This solid is recrystallized from a liter of hot benzene resulting in a crystalline white solid, M.P. l80-l84 C. Upon drying this desired product, C H O S melts at 181.0 182.5 C. and is indicated through the following elemental analytical data:

Element Actual, Calculated,

Percent Percent by Wt. by Vt t.

EXAMPLE X EXAMPLE XI Further insecticidal utility is shown in the following test: the bean aphid, Aphis fabae, is cultured on nastur- 7 tium plants. No attempt is made to select insects of a given age in this test. Selected test plants are infested with approximately 100 aphids; these plants are treated with a formulation of the test chemical (2000 p.p.rn. product of Example IX-5% acetone-0.01% Triton X155balance Water). Based on counts made 24- hours after exposure better than 50% aphid mortality is observed.

EXAMPLE XII Employing the fungicidal evaluation concerning the Early blight fungms, Alternaria solani, given in Example III, the product of Example IX affords 100% disease control at'a concentration of 400 p.p.rn.

EXAMPLE XIII Further fungicidal utility of the product of Example IX is demonstrated using the procedure given in Example IV. Employing this test results indicate 100% disease control at the 2000 ppm. concentration.

EXAMPLE XIV The product of Example IX demonstrates no phytotoxicity on tomato plants, corn plants, bean plants, or oat plants at a concentration of 6400 p.p.rn. using the procedure given in Example VI.

EXAMPLE XV Whereas the procedure given in Example XIV used a spray application method, an evaluation to determine the effects of applying the product of Example IX to the soil around the plants is carried out using tomato plants, variety Bonny Best, 5 to 7 inches tall, and corn plants, variety M-l (field corn), 4 to 6 inches tall which are treated by pouring 51 ml. of a 2000 p.p.rn. aqueous test formulation (2000 p.p.rn. test chemical-5% acetone 0.01% Triton X-155--balance water) onto the soil of 4-inch pots in which the plants are growing. The plants are held under controlled grc enhouse conditions for at least ten days before examination after which phytotoxicity ratings are given based on the scale from 0 for no injury to 11 for plant kill. Using this procedure the product of Example IX caused no injury to the plant, receiving -a rating of 0.

It is to be understood that although the invention has been described with specific reference to particular embodiments thereof, it is not to be so limited since changes and alterations therein may be made which are in the full intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

OTHER REFERENCES Fromm et al.: Berichte, vol. 58B, pages 1916-24 (1925).

Chemical Abstracts, vol. 24, page 4506 (1930).

Husson: Jour. Pharm. Chim. (8), vol. 11, pages 46-7 (1930).

Gibson: Journal of the Chem. Soc., 1931, pp. 263744.

Fromm et al.: Berichte, vol. 56B, pages 937-47 (1932).

Farrar: Journal of the Chemical Society, 1956 (pages 50843). 

1. 2,4,6-TRIHALO-1,3,5-TRITHIANE-1,3-DIOXIDE.
 5. 2,4,6-TRIPHENYL-1,3,5-TRITHIANE-1,3-DIOXIDE. 